Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Synergistic contribution of precipitation anomalies over northwestern India and the South China Sea to high temperature over the Yangtze River Valley

  • Published:
Advances in Atmospheric Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study explores the characteristics of high temperature anomalies over eastern China and associated influencing factors using observations and model outputs. Results show that more long-duration (over 8 days) high temperature events occur over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Valley (YRV) than over the surrounding regions, and control most of the interannual variation of summer mean temperature in situ. The synergistic effect of summer precipitation over the South China Sea (SCS) region (18°–27°N, 115°–124°E) and the northwestern India and Arabian Sea (IAS) region (18°–27°N, 60°–80°E) contributes more significantly to the variation of summer YRV temperature, relative to the respective SCS or IAS precipitation anomaly. More precipitation (enhanced condensational heating) over the SCS region strengthens the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and simultaneously weakens the westerly trough over the east coast of Asia, and accordingly results in associated high temperature anomalies over the YRV region through stimulating an East Asia-Pacific (EAP) pattern. More precipitation over the IAS region further adjusts the variations of the WPSH and westerly trough, and eventually reinforces high temperature anomalies over the YRV region. Furthermore, the condensational heating related to more IAS precipitation can adjust upper-tropospheric easterly anomalies over the YRV region by exciting a circumglobal teleconnection, inducing cold horizontal temperature advection and related anomalous descent, which is also conducive to the YRV high temperature anomalies. The reproduction of the above association in the model results indicates that the above results can be explained both statistically and dynamically.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chang, C.-P., Y. Zhang, and T. Li, 2000: Interannual and interdecadal variation of East Asian summer monsoon and the tropical Pacific SSTs. Part I: Roles of the subtropical ridge. J. Climate, 13, 4310–4325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, M., F.-H. Geng, L.-M. Ma, W.-D. Zhou, H. Shi, and J.-H. Ma, 2013: Analyses on the heat wave events in Shanghai in recent 138 years. Plateau Meteorology, 32, 597–607. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ding, Q. H., and B. Wang, 2005: Circumglobal teleconnection in the Northern Hemisphere summer. J. Climate, 18, 3483–3505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douville, H., and J.-F. Royer, 1996: Sensitivity of the Asian summer monsoon to an anomalous Eurasian snow cover within the Météo-France GCM. Climate Dyn., 12, 449–466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, J.-J, and S.-L Li, 2013: The influence of regional SSTs on the interdecadal shift of the East Asian summer monsoon. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 30, 330–340, doi: 10.1007/s00376-012-2062-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He, J.-H., J.-H. Ju, Z.-P. Wen, J.-M. Lü, and Q.-H. Jin, 2007: A review of recent advances in research on Asian monsoon in China. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 24, 972–992, doi: 10.1007/s00376-007-0972-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, K. M., G. Huang, X. Qu, and R. H. Huang, 2012: The impact of Indian Ocean variability on high temperature extremes across the southern Yangtze River Valley in late summer. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 29, 91–100, doi: 10.1007/s00376-011-0209-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, K. M., G. Huang, and R. G. Wu, 2013: A strengthened influence of ENSO on August high temperature extremes over the southern Yangtze River valley since the late 1980s. J. Climate, 26, 2205–2221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, G., X. Qu, and K.-M. Hu, 2011: The impact of the tropical Indian Ocean on South Asian high in boreal summer. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 28, 421–432, doi: 10.1007/s00376-010-9224-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, R.-H., and W.-J. Li, 1988: Influence of heat source anomaly over the western tropical Pacific on the subtropical high over East Asia and its physical mechanism. Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 12, 107–116. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, R.-H., and F.-Y. Sun, 1992: Impacts of the tropical western Pacific on the East Asian summer monsoon. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 70, 243–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, R.-H., Y.-F. Fu, and X.-Y. Zang, 1996: Asian monsoon and ENSO cycle interaction. Climate and Environmental Research, 1, 38–54. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jungclaus, J. H., and Coauthors, 2006: Ocean circulation and tropical variability in the coupled model ECHAM5/MPI-OM. J. Climate, 19, 3952–3972.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanamitsu, M., W. Ebisuzaki, J. Woollen, S.-K. Yang, J. J. Hnilo, M. Fiorino, and G. L. Potter, 2002: NCEP-DOE AMIP-II Reanalysis (R-2). Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 83, 1631–1643.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kershaw, R., 1988: The effect of a sea surface temperature anomaly on a prediction of the onset of the south-west monsoon over India. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc., 114, 325–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lau, N.-C., and M. J. Nath, 2014: Model simulation and projection of European heat waves in present-day and future climates. J. Climate, 27, 3713–3730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, S.-L., J. Lu, G. Huang, and K.-M. Hu, 2008: Tropical Indian Ocean basin warming and East Asian summer monsoon: A multiple AGCM study. J. Climate, 21, 6080–6088.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, Y.-H., H.-M. Xu, and D. Liu, 2011: Features of the extremely severe drought in the east of Southwest China and anomalies of atmospheric circulation in summer 2006. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 25, 176–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liebmann, B., and C. A. Smith, 1996: Description of a complete (interpolated) outgoing longwave radiation dataset. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 77, 1275–1277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, X., and Z.-Y. Guan, 2008: Temporal-spatial characters and interannual variations of summer high temperature in East China. Journal of Nanjing Institute of Meteorology, 31, 1–9. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y.-M., G.-X. Wu, H. Liu, and P. Liu, 1999: The effect of spatially non-uniform heating on the formation and variation of subtropical high. Part III: Condensation heating and South Asia high and western Pacific subtropical high. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 57, 525–538. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y.-M., and G.-X. Wu, 2004: Progress in the study on the formation of the summertime subtropical anticyclone. Adv. Atmos. Sci., 21, 322–342, doi: 10.1007/BF02915562.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nitta, T., 1987: Convective activities in the tropical western Pacific and their impact on the Northern Hemisphere summer circulation. J. Meteor. Soc. Japan, 65, 373–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng, J.-B., 2014: An investigation of the formation of the heat wave in southern China in summer 2013 and the relevant abnormal subtropical high activities. Atmos. Oceanic Sci. Lett., 7, 286–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng, J.-B., Q.-Y. Zhang, and C. Bueh, 2007: On the characteristics and possible causes of a severe drought and heat wave in the Sichuan-Chongqing region in 2006. Climatic and Environmental Research, 12, 464–474. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi, J., Y.-H. Ding, and L.-M. Cui, 2009: Climatic characteristics of extreme maximum temperature in East China and its causes. Chinese J. Atmos. Sci., 33, 347–358. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, T. M., R. W. Reynolds, T. C. Peterson, and J. Lawrimore, 2008: Improvements to NOAA’s historical merged land-ocean surface temperature analysis (1880–2006). J. Climate, 21, 2283–2295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vecchi, G. A., and D. E. Harrison, 2004: Interannual Indian rainfall variability and Indian Ocean sea surface temperature anomalies. Earth Climate: The Ocean-Atmospheric interaction, C. Wang, S.-P. Xie, and J. A. Carton, Eds., American Geophysical Union, Geophysical Monograph 147, Washington D. C., 325–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, B., R. Wu, and X. Fu, 2000: Pacific-East Asia teleconnection: How does ENSO affect East Asian climate? J. Climate, 13, 1517–1536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, B., B.-Q. Xiang, and J.-Y. Lee, 2013: Subtropical High predictability establishes a promising way for monsoon and tropical storm predictions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110, 2718–2722.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Q., S.-L. Li, J.-J. Fu, and G.-P. Li, 2012: Formation of the anomalous summer precipitation in East China in 2010 and 1998: A comparison of the impacts of two kinds of El Ni?no. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 26, 665–682.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y.-W., P.-M. Zhai, and H. Tian, 2006: Extreme high temperatures in southern China in 2003 under the background of climate change. Meteorological Monthly, 32, 27–33. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei, J., and J.-H. Sun, 2007: The analysis of summer heat wave and sultry weather in North China. Climatic and Environmental Research, 12, 453–463. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei, J., H. Yang, and S.-Q. Sun, 2004: Relationship between the anomaly longitudinal position of subtropical high in the western Pacific and severe hot weather in North China in summer. Acta Meteorologica Sinica, 62, 308–316. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, B. Y., R. H. Zhang, B. Wang, and R. D’Arrigo, 2009: On the association between spring Arctic sea ice concentration and Chinese summer rainfall. Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L09501, doi: 10.1029/2009GL037299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, R. G., 2002: A mid-latitude Asian circulation anomaly pattern in boreal summer and its connection with the Indian and East Asian summer monsoons. Inter. J. Climatol., 22, 1879–1895.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, R. G., Z.-Z. Hu, and B. P. Kirtman, 2003: Evolution of ENSOrelated rainfall anomalies in East Asia. J. Climate, 16, 3742–3758.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, R. G., and B. P. Kirtman, 2007: Observed relationship of spring and summer East Asian rainfall with winter and spring Eurasian snow. J. Climate, 20, 1285–1304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie, P. P., and P. A. Arkin, 1997: A 17-year monthly analysis based on gauge observations, satellite estimates, and numerical model outputs. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 78, 2539–2558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie, S.-P., K.-M. Hu, J. Hafner, H. Tokinaga, Y. Du, G. Huang, and T. Sampe, 2009: Indian Ocean capacitor effect on Indowestern Pacific climate during the summer following El Ni?no. J. Climate, 22, 730–747.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, S., and K. M. Lau, 1998: Influences of sea surface temperature and ground wetness on Asian summer monsoon. J. Climate, 11, 3230–3246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yasutomi, N., A. Hamada, and A. Yatagai, 2011: Development of a long-term daily gridded temperature dataset and its application to rain/snow discrimination of daily precipitation. Global Environmental Research, 15, 165–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ye, D.-X., J.-F. Yin, Z.-H., Chen, Y.-F. Zheng, and R.-J. Wu, 2013: Spatiotemporal change characteristics of summer heatwaves in China in 1961–2010. Advances in Climate Change Research, 9, 15–20. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zou, X.-K., and H. Gao, 2007: Analysis of severe drought and heat wave over the Sichuan Basin in the Summer of 2006. Advances in Climate Change Research, 3, 149–153. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China

    Ge Liu & Huimei Wang

  2. Institute of Space and Earth Information Science/Department of Geography and Resource Management/Shenzhen Research Institute, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Renguang Wu

  3. Center for Monsoon System Research, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Renguang Wu

  4. State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Shuqing Sun

Authors
  1. Ge Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Renguang Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shuqing Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Huimei Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ge Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, G., Wu, R., Sun, S. et al. Synergistic contribution of precipitation anomalies over northwestern India and the South China Sea to high temperature over the Yangtze River Valley. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 32, 1255–1265 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-015-4280-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00376-015-4280-y

Key words

Search

Navigation